Machine for finishing bolts and screws



g- 1, 1933- 7H. D. SIMKINS ET AL 1,920,600

MACHINE FOR FINISHING BOLTS AND SCREWS Filed May 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l J'Az 'SZENTUR 5' .H'amm RD 271 SJMKz-Ns 0L YER P .UEL DE g- 1, 1933- H. D. SIMKINS El AL 1,920,600

MACHINE FOR FINISHING BOLTS AND SCREWS Filed May 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNSZENIDRS )7 HUM/A222 D SIMKZ'NE' ULJYER P D211 0:

JTTUHNE Y5 Aug. 1, 1933. H. D..SIMKINS n AL MACHINE FOR FINISHING BOLTS AND SCREWS Filed May 31, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTUHNE Y5.

Patented Aug. 11, 1933- Q MACHINE on F-i IsinNG: Boers [mp scarlws Howard D. Si rnkins, East jJleveland, and Oliver P. De Loe, Cleveland, Ohio, I, assignors to The Superior Screw Belt Manufacturing Com-.

pany, Cleveland, Ohio Application May 31,1923. Serial uaesmce.

. 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for finishingb its and screws, including the shaving and pointing operations.

The general object of this invention is to increasethe speedwith which bolts and screws may lie-finished, as for'instance, upon the underside of thebolt or screw. head and upon the end of the shank which is to be pointed or beveled.

According to the old practices, if'notperformed by hand, the twooperations just referred to are either performedin different machinesor at least at different times, that is, as successive operations. Also,.when performed by the same machine, as successive operations, the position of the'bolt or screw is moved to another part of the machine after performing the one operation and prior to the second'operation. As a result of the old=prac-- tices just referred to, considerable time is lost and consequentlythere is not obtained-maximum quantity'production.

Besides increasing the speed of production, it is also an' object of the present invention to perform thefinishi'ng operations with increased efiiciency.

More specifically, the objects of this invention are to perform the finishing operations simultane ously, without changing the angular position of the bolts or screws. and all within a restricted extent of advancing movement of the bolts-or Other objects consistin providing an improved means-for holding" the bolts in position for the finishing operations andfor rotatingthe same during such: operations.

Ai'urther object is to provide a rneans-forprea venting thebolts or screws'from sti'cki'ng in the feedmeans. i

1 Furthermore, it is the object of this invention to: devise a single unitary automatiomachine structure that is capableof accomplishing the above results in' an expeditious and efficient manner and thatis-of comparatively simple-com struction.

Other objects will appear f-rom-the following" description and claims when considered together i with the accompanying drawings.

It is-tobe understoodthat the present form of disclosure. is merely for. purposes of illustrationand that various.modifications might be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

In the accompanying drawingaFig. l is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to our'invention'; Fig; 2is a fragmentary plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion of themachineshowing the cutting (01. iii-+1 cam and operating lever for: actuating the. feed bolts or screws to slide by gravity into a chute '27- mounted over the said chute so as'to engage;

to the lower or outlet end of the chute where there is located a reciprocable plate 29 adapted toolsand" their operatingmechanism; Fig; 4 is a.

fragmentary elevation partially in section. of @the i h 7 work holding chuck and associated parts. on a. somewhat larger scale; Fig. 5 is a section'along the line 5-.5of Fig. 4; Fig-dis an elevation of the.

plate; Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentarydiagram matic plan views showing the operation-of the feed plate! Figs. 9";and' 10 are detail views ofmechanism shown'in Fig. 2'; andFig. 11 illustrates diagrammatically the performance of three finishing operations simultaneously. j

Referring now to the drawings, the machine as a whole comprisesa bed 10' onwhich is supported, by suitable bearings, a drive shaft 11 drivenfrom an. outside source throughbelt 12v and pulley 13 fastened on the end of said shaft. The drive shaft 11 carries a gear 14"which meshes. with gear 15 mounted onthe intermediate shaft 16. The shaft 16 also carries gear '17 which. meshes with gear 18 so as todrive the cam shaftv 19' upon which the gear 18 is mounted. V The belts or screws to be operated upon are thrownpromiscuously'into'a hopper 20 whichis supported by the frame of the machine. The" bolts or screws in thevhoppe r are picked up and properly arranged by a curved slotted disc 21v adapted to rise and fall in the hopper undercontrol of 'a' rotatable arm 22' whose roller 23 rides in the cam slot 24 formed in the extension' on the lower portion of said disc." The boltsor screws arerarranged in the slotted disc 21 Spas to hang, by their heads and when said disc is in its uppermost position, its angle is such as to cause 't he 25 A guard 26, (Fig. 1), is placed over the chute so as to keep'thebolts or screws in order. Any

bolts or screws not properly positioned in the chute are removed by a rotatable toothed wheel 5 during its rotation, any improperly positioned bolts or screws and kick them back into the hopper. V

As shown in Fig. 2, the bolts or screws 28 pass to slide back and forth across the end of the path of the bolts or screws and to remove one at. a time from the chute and then hold back'the remaining continuous line of bolts or screws in the chute while delivering the removed bolt or screw to be operated upon. Theplate 29'isreciprocated in a slide-way 30 by means of a cam 31 working in conjunction with a. togglemechanism and a compression spring 32. A roller 33 carried on .one

'arm of a bell crank lever 34 engages the cam 31,

compression spring 32, thereby retracting the plate,29, as indicated in Fig. 7. A recess 37,

formed in the end of the plate 29, is then caused to register with the delivery end. of chute whereupon the foremost bolt or screw passes by gravity from the chute and seats itself in the said recess, as shown in Fig. 8. The roller 33 now engages the low point of the cam, whereupon lever 34 releases the toggle which is hereupon straightened by the action of spring 32, so as to advance plate 29 which moves the bolt or screw just received to a position to one side of themouth of the chute and in comparatively close proximity thereto. As the bolt or screw is thus moved into such position. by the advance-j ment of the plate 29, the shank portion of the bolt or screw is brought to bear against an angularly, disposed, spring-pressed plate 40 which tends to steady the bolt or screw and prevent it from chattering during its rotation, thereby securinga more uniform cutting. Bolt 29 carried by plate 29 is adapted to engage the stop 29 on the. slide-way 30. Then the head of the bolt or screw isengaged by a floating chuck 39 which rotatesthe same while a-pair of cutting tools mounted adjacent thereto operate upon it.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the, chuck 39 is V slidably mounted on the end of a spindle 41 which is slidably and rotatably supported through bearings 42 and 43 forming part ofbracket 44 extending from the bed 10 ofthe machine. When the plate 29 reaches the end of. its forward movement,

the bolt or screw carried-thereby is directly beneath the spindle 39 which is then automatically lowered so that itshexagonal or other form of opening 45 passes over. the correspondingly formedhead of the bolt or screw. At this time, a pin 46 extending from the lower end of the spindle 41 is engaged by the head of the bolt or screw and depressed against a spring 47, as shown in Fig.

4. Pin 46 is carried by a socket 46?.which hasscrew-threaded engagement in the lower end of spindle41,.a head being provided upon the pin to retain the same in the socket and to afford a bearing surface for the spring. The chuck 39- is lowered into position over the bolt or screw by means of a compression spring 48 which is;

released at the proper time by means ciacam 49 acting through roller 50, lever arm 51, rod 52,

and spring 53, which is attached -atits upper.

end'to a rockerarm '54 whose opposite end is a tached to a collar fixed to the, spindle 41 (Fig. 1). The spindle 41 continuously rotated through a pulley 56 carriedon the drive shaft 11. ed over the idlers 58 so as to pass around the pulley 59 carried on the said spindle. Chuck 39 has slots 3 gthrough w ich extend the ends pin 39 which is threaded in spindle 41. Extendingthrough spindle 41 at ninety degrees to the screw 39 is the pin 39, the ends of which engage in recesses 39*-. This in supports washer 48 'for the spring 48. The pin and slot connec-' tions just described have suincient play to constitue a. virtually floating connection for the chuck.

During the rotation of the bolt 01" the cutting tools' 60 and ,61 (Figs. 3 and 4)" mounted A belt 57 passing over the p lley 56 is direct:

Wardly into position so as to simultaneously shave the under surface of the head portion point the lower end of thcshank portion or" the said bolt or screw. The cutting tools 69 and 61 are rigidly supported betweei'l the clamps 62 and 63, respectively, and thesexclamps in turn separately andv adjustably supported in a plate The plate G lls slidably mounted in the bracket 65, and, as shown in Fig. 3, is raised at the proper time so as to bring the cutting tools into operative relation. with respect to the bolt orscrew. The platefid israised against the action of soringfifi by a cam 67' which engages roller 68 "ed on-one arm of a bell crank lever 69 pivot-ally taunted at 70. 'The other arm of lever 69 engages a rod '71 carried by the said plate. Cam 67 is mounted upon shaft 19 for operation thereby.

As a means lor preventing the bolts or screws from sticking in the chute, we have provided a delivery end of the chute immediately prior to the movement of the slide 29 across the mouth of the chute; This means comprises the bellcrank. lever which is pivotally mounted'atthe point 74 upon a bracket secured to the slide-way 35). The rear end of the lever has a roller '75 adapted for engagement by the block 29 car- 'ied by the reciprocating plate 29. The other arm '76 of the bell crank lever has pivotal connection at"?! with a finger 78 which is adapted to be projected just back of the foremost bolt or screw in the chute so as to assist the force of gravity in the delivery of the same therefrom. The rear end of the finger 78 is beveled, as indicated at 78 so as to engage the correspondingly beveled surface '79 provided on the arm 76' of, the bellecrank lever. The end portion of th e ;arm 76 may be formed as a clevis to receive the rear end portion of the finger '78. The coil spring 80 ispositioned around the suitably mounted ;rod 8i) which extends through the arm'76, and finger 78, and is provided with a suitable curved bearing engagement 8i) with the overlapping portions of the arm '76 and finger 78, these parts being so constructed and arranged that when the slide 29 is withdrawn the spring will cause the arm '76 and finger 78 to assume straight or distended position, at which time, the beveled surfaces 78 and 79 will engage with each other and the finger '78 will virtually form a straight con-. tinuation of the arm 76 so as to then partake of the forward movement of the arm 76 caused by the action of the spring, and the blank will be forced out of the chute. Furthermore, this manner of engagement between the arm 76 and finger 78 serves to limit the pivotal movement about the point "77 and thus there is precluded the danger of these parts passing beyond dead center. The stop member 81 is adjustably mounted upon the sideof the chute, through the sidewall of which an opening is provided, and is adapted to engage and guide the forwardfend portion of finger '18 so as to determine the point of entrance of the finger, with respect to the bolts or screws. In this way, by'setting the stop 81 at the proper point according to the particular size of bolts or screws at any given time, the upward swinging movement of the finger will be definitely deter-. mined so .as to be left in proper position for entrance just back of the foremost bolt or screw as it advances down the chute. In other words, with thisarrangement, the finger is permitted to retreat a distance corresponding to the diameter of the particular size of bolt or screw;

When the machine is stopped, the slide finger 81 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to extend through an opening in the side of the chute and across the path of the bolts or screws. In this way, the bolts or screws are prevented from dropping out of the chute. V

Briefly stated, the operation is as follows. The bolts or screws are fed by gravity and by means of the finger '78 so as to be discharged one at a time from the mouth of the inclined chute. Each bolt or screw asit thus emerges from the chute is received in the recess of the reciprocating plate 29 and is brought into engagement with the yielding backing member 40 which also has a suitably formed recess to receive the bolt or screw. Thus, the bolt or screw is clamped between the two members 29 and 40, the one being angularly disposed with respect to the other. The floating chuck then descends and engages over the head of the bolt or screw which is then rotated by the spindle upon which the chuck is carried. The universal or floating movement of the chuck serves as a means of compensating for any eccentric relation between the head and shank of any imperfectly formed bolt or screw. As soon as the head of thebolt or screw is en'- gaged by the rotating chuck, the cutting tools are raised for engagement with the bolt or screw, the

tool being adapted to shave the under surface of the bolt or screw head while the tool ,61 is adapted to form the bevel on the end of the shank. Upon completion of the finishing opera- N or screw is rolled out of its seat in the plate 29 by the action of the spring-pressed member 40,

thereby preventing sticking of the same.

Instead of using the form of cutting tools here illustrated, there may be employed circular cutters which are also well known. Also, the recessed forward end portions of the plate 29 and member 40 may be formed as separate parts which can readily be replaced at any time. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the mouth of the chuck may be of any desired shape, according to the shape of the bolt or screw head in any given case. In the case of bolts or screws having circular heads the chuck may be provided with downwardly extending pins for engagement for the rotary movement, or, the tops of circular heads might be slotted diametrically and a correspondingly shaped downwardly extending projection provided upon the chuck for engagement therein. Although only two cutting tools are shown in the present case, yet in those cases as is found in a certain class of work; that is,

extruded. bolts and screws.

See, for instance, the third cutter 61 in Fig. 11.

The speed of operation and hence the volume of production, is greatly increased with the present machine, due to the performance of all the finishing operations at the same time, and also to the performance of all the movements of the bolts or screws within a comparatively restricted space. The bolts or screws are maintained in the same 7. angular position throughout the entire operation and all of the finishing operations are performed within the immediate vicinity of the mouth of the chute;

Thus, the machine is of a very com} pact nature and furthermore, the mechanism-is comparatively simple. Because of the spring-- actuated parts, there is ensured the degree ofyieldability which is necessary to prevent binding f and chattering. At the same time, the complete straightening ofthe toggle 35 affords a rigid Also, the bolt or screw is prevented from sticking,

as above explained.

Other advantages will be apparent to those who are familiar with the art to which the present invention relates.

As above stated, the present device is adapted for use in connection with either bolts or screws and in the. following claims, the reference to blanks is intended to comprehend either bolts or screws, this generic term being adopted for the sake of convenience.

What we claim is: Y r

1. A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding blanks, means for receiving and moving the blanks from" the end of the chute, and means controlled by said last-named means movable forwardly along the chute and for positively moving the blanks along the chute and thereby preventing the same from sticking in said chute.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding blanks, lever means for forcing the blanks out of the chute, said lever means including a bell crank lever and a finger having pivotal connection with one arm of said bell crank lever, said one arm and finger having oppositely disposed inclined portions adapted for interengagement whereby the said finger may assume position corresponding to a continuation of said one arm of the bell crank lever and may have the movement thereof when in such interengagement, whereby the said finger may be given a forward movement for expelling a blank from the chute and then withdrawn therefrom, and means adapted for engagement by said finger during its withdrawal from the chute for determining the extent to which the finger should be moved about its pivot preparatory to its return into the chute.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding blanks, a reciprocating means for receiving and moving the blanks from the end of the chute, lever means movable forwardly along the chute for positively forcing the..-

blanks out of the chute, and means actuated by operation of said lever means.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding bolts or screws, lever means for forcing the bolts or screws out of the chute, said lever means including a bell crank lever and a finger having pivotal connection with one arm of said bell crank lever, said one arm and finger having oppositely disposed inclined portions adapted for interengagement whereby the said finger may assume position corresponding to a.

continuation of said one arm of the bell crank lever and mayhavethe movement thereof when in such interengagement, whereby the said finger may be given a forward movement for expelling a bolt or screw from the chute and then withdrawn.

therefrom, and means adjustably mounted upon the chute adapted for engagement by said finger during its withdrawal from the chute for determining the extent to which the finger should be moved about its pivot preparatory to its return into the chute.

\ for interengagement whereby they may be actuated forwardly as a unitary lever means for expelling a blank from the chute, means for causing interengagement of said lever arms, and means for breaking said interengagement'and causing withdrawal of said lever means from the path of the blanks.

6; A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding blanks, lever means for forcing the blanks out of the chute, said lever means including two pivotally connected arms adapted for interengagement whereby they may be actuated forwardly as a unitary lever means for expelling a blank from the chute, spring means for causing interengagement of said lever arms, and means for breaking said interengagement and causing withdrawal of said lever means from the path of the blanks.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding blanks, lever means for forcing the blanks out of the chute, said lever means including a bell crank lever and a finger having pivotal connection with one arm of said bell crank lever, said one arm and finger having oppositely disposed inclined portions adapted for interengagement whereby the said finger may as- *sume position corresponding to a continuation of said one arm of the bell crank lever and may have the movement thereof when in such interengagement, spring means foractuating said lever means in the manner above described so that the said finger may be given a forward movement for expelling a blank from the chute, and means for breaking said interengagement and causing withdrawal of said lever means from the path of the blanks. l

8. A machine of the class described comprising a chute for feeding blanks, reciprocating means for receiving and moving the blanks from the end of the chute, lever means for forcing the bolts or screws out of the chute, said lever means including a bell crank lever and a finger having a pivotal connection with one arm of saidbell crank lever, said one arm and finger having portions adapted for interengagement whereby'the said finger may have the movement of said bell crank leverwhen in such interengagement, whereby said finger may be given a forward movement for expelling a blank from said chuteand then withdrawn therefrom, means for effecting said interengagement and forward movement of said bell crank lever and finger during rearward movement of said reciprocating means, and means whereby forward movement of said reciprocating means will cause disengagement of said bell crank lever and finger and cause withdrawal of said finger from the path of the blanks.

HOWARD D. SIMKINS. OLIVER P. DE LOE. 

